Cardinal calls for more transparent finances at Vatican

Vatican finding new methods for open financial dealings

(ANSA) - Vatican City, December 18 - The Vatican must strive
to become more transparent and fair in its financial dealings,
its secretary of state said Tuesday.

"The necessary transparency of economic and financial
activity of the Holy See and the State of Vatican City requires
a commitment to more incisive and joint correctness by each
administration in the management of assets and economic
activities," said Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone.

At the same, the Holy See must find ways to reduce its
spending and better manage its assets, he added.

He spoke outside of meetings aimed at helping the Vatican
bring its financial management in line with internationally
recognized best practices.

"This has become even more necessary in the face of the
commitment by the Holy See to comply with international auditing
standards," said Bertone.

As part of its renewed financial strategy, the Holy See's
Prefecture for Economic Affairs, currently chaired by Cardinal
Joseph Versaldi, becomes the main department of planning and
economic coordination.

Vatican financial dealings came under particular scrutiny
in July, when the Council of Europe's Moneyval department said
in a report that the Holy See had made some progress on
financial transparency, but added that more reforms were needed.